Second Vehicle Fee

[billy79]

My wife and I plan on full-timing starting next spring. We will be getting a TH as I will need to continue to work (telecommute) and I want a separate work space so the garage will become my office.

It of course also gives us the added benefit of hauling toys, we are currently thinking about wether we want to pick up a touring bike and if we want to take our ATV with us so we could potentially be hauling one or the other or both.

So this brings me to two questions:

1.) We see in some campgrounds, especially Forrest Service campgrounds, national forrests, state parks, etc. that many charge a second vehicle fee. I don't want to unload the toys (bike, atv or both) each day, set up the garage as my office then tear down my office and re-load the toys each day.....so I would probably unload and leave them out.

Do you know if I would be charged a second vehicle fee for a vehicle I hauled in via the TH if I leave it out? I am just wondering if I unload a bike if they are going to want me to pay an extra $5 - $10 a day for the bike that is sitting there....that could get expensive really quick.

2.) Still up in the air on if we will take the ATV. We have seen there are a lot of places that say no ORV use in the campground. How strict are most CG's on this? Would they have a problem with me unloading it from the TH and then just leaving it parked next to the TH? What if I unloaded from the TH and then loaded it via ramps into my TV so that I can take it to a trailhead? Seems like since I am not driving it around the CG that would be something I could do, but I would hate to take the ATV with me assuming that to find I get in a pissing match with someone whenever I try to unload it from the TH so I can use the garage as an office, or load it into the TV so I can take it to a trailhead where I can use the ATV.

Thanks in advance for any help. We have decided on a TH no matter what as I really want to use the garage as an office, but this research will greatly help us in figuring out what else we may bring with us on our journey.

[dedmiston]

Bicker, bicker, bicker...

This one's done.

[Bumpyroad]

kcmoedoe wrote:

Dirtclods wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Dirtclods wrote:

(hogwash) Really I'll challenge any park ranger or park employee on the law if they have the wrong information! Why would you pay if you don't half to?

Always ask- Show me in writing not just a sign or a flier saying so. The law nothing but the law. You'll find a lot of times they been doing things wrong for years.

if it says so in the park rules that they hand out, that is the rule. the law has nothing to do with it. I doubt that there is a "law" saying that they can/must charge extra for FHU, or 50 amp vs 30 amp service. if anybody doesn't like the rules in a certain park, just get the He!! out of it.
bumpy

Yep you said it (park rules) generators hours, not regulations! You can bicker here all you want about what I say in print. I'm just trying to save people money!!

I am a bit confused. Are you saying you ignore rules like generator hours because they are not actually a "law"?

sounds like it to me. 🙂
and a sign or flyer is how the campgrounds notify the campers as to the rules/requirements/etc.
bumpy

[kcmoedoe]

Dirtclods wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Dirtclods wrote:

(hogwash) Really I'll challenge any park ranger or park employee on the law if they have the wrong information! Why would you pay if you don't half to?

Always ask- Show me in writing not just a sign or a flier saying so. The law nothing but the law. You'll find a lot of times they been doing things wrong for years.

if it says so in the park rules that they hand out, that is the rule. the law has nothing to do with it. I doubt that there is a "law" saying that they can/must charge extra for FHU, or 50 amp vs 30 amp service. if anybody doesn't like the rules in a certain park, just get the He!! out of it.
bumpy

Yep you said it (park rules) generators hours, not regulations! You can bicker here all you want about what I say in print. I'm just trying to save people money!!

I am a bit confused. Are you saying you ignore rules like generator hours because they are not actually a "law"?

[Dirtclods]

Bumpyroad wrote:

Dirtclods wrote:

(hogwash) Really I'll challenge any park ranger or park employee on the law if they have the wrong information! Why would you pay if you don't half to?

Always ask- Show me in writing not just a sign or a flier saying so. The law nothing but the law. You'll find a lot of times they been doing things wrong for years.

if it says so in the park rules that they hand out, that is the rule. the law has nothing to do with it. I doubt that there is a "law" saying that they can/must charge extra for FHU, or 50 amp vs 30 amp service. if anybody doesn't like the rules in a certain park, just get the He!! out of it.
bumpy

Yep you said it (park rules) generators hours, not regulations! You can bicker here all you want about what I say in print. I'm just trying to save people money!!

[Bumpyroad]

Dirtclods wrote:

(hogwash) Really I'll challenge any park ranger or park employee on the law if they have the wrong information! Why would you pay if you don't half to?

Always ask- Show me in writing not just a sign or a flier saying so. The law nothing but the law. You'll find a lot of times they been doing things wrong for years.

if it says so in the park rules that they hand out, that is the rule. the law has nothing to do with it. I doubt that there is a "law" saying that they can/must charge extra for FHU, or 50 amp vs 30 amp service. if anybody doesn't like the rules in a certain park, just get the He!! out of it.
bumpy

[fj12ryder]

We've been hauling a road motorcycle or two for about 6 years and have never had to pay a second fee for either of the bikes. Of course I've never stopped and asked if I had to, either. I always operate under the notion that it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

If they came around and wanted me to pay a fee for a second, or third, vehicle then I'd pay, and I would leave as quickly as possible. I hate being gouged. Making you pay for a bike that you hauled in, and takes up very little parking space is ridiculous. Reasonable fees are one thing, but arbitrary fees are something else entirely.

[Dirtclods]

Rollnhome wrote:
Seem to be pretty set in your ways Dirtclod

Awe come on I said toy. Toys are fun!!

[Dirtclods]

dedmiston wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Dirtclods wrote:
Off road toys are Not vehicles and they can't charge you for them. .

hogwash. they can charge for anything that they want to. if you don't like it, don't stay.
bumpy

I'm not paying for an unlicensed vehicle that I can't even legally operate at that facility. If it can't possibly be operated and/or the wheels won't ever touch the ground because it's stowed, I wouldn't pay.

(hogwash) Really I'll challenge any park ranger or park employee on the law if they have the wrong information! Why would you pay if you don't half to?

Always ask- Show me in writing not just a sign or a flier saying so. The law nothing but the law. You'll find a lot of times they been doing things wrong for years.

[Rollnhome]

Seem to be pretty set in your ways Dirtclod

[Dirtclods]

Rollnhome wrote:
They are called off road vehicles....not off road toys. I'm sure every public park has their own fee schedule and private parks can charge what ever they wish. To be sure you would need to contact each park to verify their fee schedule.

(not off road toys) That's what mine are called! (Toys)

[Pangaea_Ron]

At WA state parks, you do not have to pay for a towed vehicle. My wife and I arrived at different times at our camp site, me with the MH, and she with the towed vehicle. The park ranger said that he would need to charge a 2nd vehicle fee if her vehicle did not have towing hardware and the MH did not have a tow bar attached. Both did.

That seems like a reasonable policy and interpretation.

[kcmoedoe]

It is much more likely to be a site management issue than just plain greed. The last thing most parks want is someone pulling in with an RV towing a car and 4 other people driving their cars joining them. I have seen very few RV parks that have room for more than one or at the most two, vehicles besides the camping unit at the site. I would think they would even attach the fee to those off road vehicles if they had someone pull in with an enclosed hauler and then proceed to unload a half dozen and start parking them all over. If they are kept on the trailer or in the rear of the toy hauler and removed only when in use and then returned to that space, I doubt most RV parks would know or care. But private parks surely have the right to charge whatever fees they want and government entities can also make any rule they choose. No one is forced to stay in a place where they feel the charges and policies are unfair.

[dedmiston]

Bumpyroad wrote:

Dirtclods wrote:
Off road toys are Not vehicles and they can't charge you for them. .

hogwash. they can charge for anything that they want to. if you don't like it, don't stay.
bumpy

I'm not paying for an unlicensed vehicle that I can't even legally operate at that facility. If it can't possibly be operated and/or the wheels won't ever touch the ground because it's stowed, I wouldn't pay.

[dodgboy]

We towed our street legal Tracker to Oceano Dunes, no extra charge and they give you a window slip for it. If we drove it then we would have to pay extra. My brother drove his Tracker and they wanted him to pay extra so he had to load it up to bring it in. Stayed at a National Forest campground with same Tracker. Had to pay the extra vehicle fee. Coral Pink sand dunes in Utah did not require extra fee for same Tracker. We wanted to stay at Valley of Fire in Nevada but they would not let us unload our RZR at all. It all depends where you go I guess.